For the second game in a row Watford were off the pace and second best across all departments as Swansea City took a 1-0 lead into half-time at the Liberty Stadium.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ side followed on from Wednesday’s aberration at Southampton with another 45 minutes which lacked any of energy that has typified the Hornets’ season.

It was little surprise, therefore, that the Swans – in front of newly appointed head coach Francesco Guidolin, formerly of Udinese – took the lead after 28 minutes in a half they bossed.

Ashley Williams was the goalscorer, barging his way past a static Valon Behrami to power home Ki Sung Yueng’s cross.

Flores made three changes from the side beaten at St Mary’s. In came Nathan Ake, back from suspension, Behrami and Craig Cathcart.

Sebastian Prodl and Almen Abdi dropped to the bench whilst Jose Holebas missed out through injury.

The Swans, under the guidance of interim boss Alan Curtis for the final time, dictated the tempo and might have gone in front had the returning Nathan Ake not shepherded the ball back to Heurelho Gomes after 19 minutes.

Watford’s one and only change of an insipid first half came three minutes later. Troy Deeney did well to brush aside Neil Taylor before whipping a ball across the face of goal which Odion Ighalo couldn’t connect with properly.

Andre Ayew, a menace throughout for the hosts, then tried his luck rom the edge of the area but only succeeded in shooting into Gomes’ palms.

The decisive moment arrived two minutes before the half-hour mark.

Ben Watson’s poor clearance from a free-kick allowed Ki to deliver from the right and the strapping Williams was inexplicably allowed to ghost into penalty area and bludgeon the Swans in front.

Jose Manuel Jurado had Watford's only shot on target, minutes before the half-time whistle, but failed to test the underworked Lukasz Fabianski.

Swansea City: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams (c), Taylor; Britton, Cork; Routledge, Ki, Sigurdsson; Ayew.

Swansea City substitutes: Nordfeldt (GK), Amat, Emnes, Gomis, Montero, Rangel, Barrow.

Watford: Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Capoue, Behrami, Watson, Jurado; Deeney, Ighalo.

Watford substitutes: Arlauskis (GK), Prodl, Oulare, Paredes, Guedioura, Anya, Abdi.

Referee: Michael Oliver.